Cover for housing

Abstract

A method of retaining and sealing a cover ( 1 ) to a housing ( 2 ) of a machine includes applying a fluent adhesive material ( 4 ) to one or both of the surfaces of the cover and housing which confront one another when the housing and cover are in an assembled condition, assembling the cover to the housing such that the fluent adhesive material is interposed between the cover and the housing over at least part of their confronting surfaces, applying holding elements ( 5 ) to the cover and the housing with the adhesive material interposed therebetween to retain them in their relative positions and then effecting an increase in the mechanical strength of the adhesive material sufficient to retain the cover in position on the housing in normal operation of the machine.

1 . A method of retaining and sealing a cover to a housing of a machine comprising applying a fluent adhesive material to one or both of the surfaces of the cover and housing which confront one another when the housing and cover are in an assembled condition, assembling the cover to the housing such that the fluent adhesive material is interposed between the cover and the housing over at least part of their confronting surfaces, applying holding means to the cover and the housing with the adhesive material interposed therebetween to retain them in their relative positions and then effecting an increase in the mechanical strength of the adhesive material sufficient to retain the cover in position on the housing in normal operation of the machine.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the fluent adhesive material is interposed between the cover and the housing over the whole of their confronting surfaces.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the holding means comprises the adhesive material itself.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the holding means comprises externally applied means.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the holding means is subsequently removed.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the holding means is subsequently retained.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the confronting surfaces of the cover and/or the housing are provided with a groove and the fluent adhesive material fills the groove.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the housing is the housing of a gear box.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the housing is apertured and the cover is positioned to extend over and seal said aperture.  
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A machine with a housing and a cover retained in position relative to the housing by a method according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A machine according to  claim 11  wherein the machine is a gear unit having a housing to which the cover is secured  
     
     
         13 . A machine according to  claim 12  wherein said gear unit is of a kind having a power rating of at least 0.5 horsepower.